Pay What You Want: Montclair Restauranteur's Social Experiment Continues

Zod Arifai’s social experiment continues in Montclair… How much money would you cough up for a “pay what you want” meal?

There are 12 more days until Blu and Next Door – located next to each other at 554 Bloomfield Avenue – close their doors on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Until he relocates and opens his new restaurant in Manhattan, owner-chef Arifai plans to continue offering the unique offer to his patrons.

Here’s how it works.

“You can eat as many things as you want and as much as you want, but you must finish everything that you order (you can’t take anything home),” Baristanet explained. “You’ll receive a check listing everything that you ordered with three lines: one for total amount you want to pay, one for tax, and one for the tip.”

So far, the pricing experiment has inspired a diverse reaction among diners, Arifai told The New York Times.

“Over all, Mr. Arifai said, diners seem to be paying slightly less than half the old menu prices, though a direct comparison is difficult because these portions are somewhat smaller,” The Times reported.

The pay-what-you-want experiment is Arifai’s attempt to give his patrons a “thank you” after 10 years in Montclair, NorthJersey.com reported.

It’s an interesting opportunity for locals who don’t normally go out to eat – or who can’t afford it – to sample dishes from a restaurant that regularly ranked among the best in New Jersey.

• See related article: Three Montclair Restaurants Ranked Best in The State

But even more interesting is each patron’s inevitable internal dialogue when the bill comes:

“What was this meal worth to me?”

Pictured above: Zod Arifai

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Be honest, Montclair. What would you pay for a meal that normally costs $20 at one of Arifai’s restaurants? Take the Patch reader poll below.